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How Malachi Richardson fits into the Sacramento Kings’ rotation

Jessica Sheldon | Photo Editor

Malachi Richardson should have every oppurtunity to thrive on a Kings squad with only one other true shooting guard.

Former Syracuse wing Malachi Richardson was picked by the Charlotte Hornets with the No. 22 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and then reportedly traded to the Sacramento Kings.

Here is the current salary and contract situation for the Kings, per Basketball-Reference.com

Screen Shot 2016-06-23 at 10.13.07 PM

Richardson, who projects as a shooting guard at the NBA level, joins a roster without many true shooting guards. Veteran guard Marco Belinelli was traded to Charlotte for the pick that the Kings took Richardson with.

The one natural shooting guard the Kings have on the roster for next season is former Kansas guard Ben McLemore. But the third-year pro had a rough season, averaging a career low in minutes (21.2) and points (7.8). Darren Collison played a lot of minutes at the 2 last season, but he’s a point guard by nature and the Kings point guard from last season, Rajon Rondo, is a free agent. It’s uncertain if he’ll return.



This is the third time in the last four years that the Kings have selected a shooting guard in the 1st round of the draft. They took McLemore in 2013 and took former Michigan player Nik Stauskas in 2014.

Sacramento was 19th last season in 3-pointers made per game (8.0) and 21st in 3-pointers attempted (22.4). Richardson, who averaged a little more then six threes attempted per game in his lone year at Syracuse, should stand to help Sacramento improve their long-range shooting and bring some stability to the revolving door at the shooting guard position for the Kings.





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